NHL Hall of Fame: 25 Current Jerseys You'll Never See Again

The National Hockey League is the purest form of professional sports our country has to offer. The best part of purity in sports is the sheer loyalty players have to their franchises, something that lacks in all three other leagues when compared to the NHL. Each player represents the opportunity that most express extremely passionately and proudly.

What takes purity away from the other, more popular professional sports leagues is very simple. The MLB has been tainted with performance-enhancing drugs for the last 20 years and continues with the most lucrative contracts, like Alex Rodriguez's multiple $250 million deals, while it seems as if the NBA and NFL can't go one week without a criminal charge on current and former athletes.

NHL fans make the league extremely special because they are respected by players in ways the NFL, NBA and MLB cannot compare. The newly-acquired Winnipeg Jets are the epitome of an incredible fanbase because, in reality, they have no connection to these players whatsoever, as the franchise moved from Atlanta. The Jets that the many Winnipeg faithful remember are now the Phoenix Coyotes, yet the entire fanbase flaunts passion and patience for the future—their five-year season ticket wait-list serving as perfect evidence.

The pride in the NHL is unmatched when compared to the MLB, NBA and NFL, and the most honorable feat a player can receive is to have his jersey number retired by his franchise. In extremely rare circumstances like Wayne Gretzky and Jackie Robinson, a jersey number is retired by the entire league, so you'll never see an NHL franchise or affiliate with a No. 99 uniform ever again.

As far as this current NHL season is concerned, many of the future banners to be hung are being worn right as we speak. Here are 25 current NHL jerseys you'll never see again...

Anaheim Ducks No. 8: Teemu Selanne

In his rookie campaign with the Winnipeg Jets, Teemu Selanne sniped an "unbreakable record" 76 goals and 56 assists, shattering both previous rookie records held by Mike Bossy and Peter Stasny.

He is the first 35-year-old player to record consecutive 40-goal seasons. He's the oldest NHL player to score 45 goals in a season, record a shootout goal and is the oldest player to record three goals and five points in a single game.

Selanne is also the all-time points leader in the history of the Winter Olympic Games and is only one of three European-born players to score over 600 goals in a career (Jaromir Jagr, Jari Kurri).

Calgary Flames No. 12: Jarome Iginla

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Iginla is one of the most underrated players in the league. He's one of the select few in the coveted 500-goal fraternity in NHL history, as well as one of the only players to participate in a double "Gordie Howe" hat trick.

Jarome Iginla is one of the most prolific two-way forwards in the league today and is sure to have his No. 12 hanging from the rafters in Calgary in no time.

Philadelphia Flyers No. 28: Claude Giroux

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Claude Giroux is by far one of the most talented and underrated players in the league today. He is one of the youngest on the list at only 24, so it is a very bold prediction, but there's no way the Flyers will part ways with "G-Sus". As long as he keeps etching his name in the record books (first Flyer to score six points in a playoff game), he's sure to be honored with a banner at the Wells Fargo Center.

His first full season with the Flyers was in 2009 and has since been one of the best two way players in the league. He's young, extremely talented, loves Philadelphia and loves his team.

Once current Flyers captain Chris Pronger retires or changes teams again, Giroux tops the list of likely Flyers to take over as team captain.

He'll be there his whole prolific career, and hopefully with no more concussions.

Tampa Bay Lightning No. 26: Martin St. Louis

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Martin St. Louis began his NHL career in Calgary before he was acquired as a free agent by the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2000.

Since 2002, St. Louis has averaged just over 31 goals per season—the same pure consistency that propelled the Bolts' unprecedented Stanley Cup run in 2004. Currently, St. Louis is in an ongoing close race for leading the franchise in points with teammate and captain Vincent Lecavalier in the neighborhood of 850 points.

His hard-working nature has allowed him to step up and be one of the first true franchise players for the Lightning, an undying loyalty that will be rewarded with a No. 26 banner hanging forever in the St. Pete Times Forum.

Pittsburgh Penguins No. 87: Sidney Crosby

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Crosby began his NHL career in truly unique fashion, breaking every record in sight.

No. 87 is the youngest player in NHL history to record a 100-point season, 200 career points, back-to-back 100-point seasons as well as the youngest player to ever win the Art Ross and Lester B. Pearson Awards.

Aside form the performance in Pittsburgh, Crosby is also the youngest player to ever be crowned team captain in NHL history.

At just 27 years old, Crosby has one of the most prolific trophy cases in NHL history complete with every major NHL award.

Even if Crosby's career ends short due to the numerous concussions, his hard work in the hockey-friendly city of Pittsburgh will always be remembered.

Pittsburgh Penguins No. 29: Marc-Andre Fleury

The Pens drafted Fleury first overall in 2003 and followed it up by drafting franchise cornerstones Sidney Crosby (No. 1, 2005) and Evgeni Malkin (No. 2, 2004).

Fleury started off extremely weak for the Penguins, going 4-14-2-1 in 21 appearances in 2004. Following the horrendous rookie campaign, the Pens front office sent Fleury to the OMJHL and AHL.

After the 59-game stint in the minors, Fleury was called up to the NHL and would never look back.

Since 2005, "Flower" has logged nearly 25,000 minutes in the brick wall mask and recorded 222 wins, a .909 save percentage and 2.68 GAA.

Fleury is the first true franchise goaltender to suit up in Pittsburgh since Tom Barrasso in 1988, and as long as he finishes his career as a Penguin, he'll earn himself a No. 29 banner in the Consol Energy Center.

San Jose Sharks No. 19: Joe Thornton

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This image of "Jumbo Joe" is one of the most iconic in California hockey history and was taken after Joe's incredible overtime goal in Los Angeles, sinking the hated rivals in the 2011 Stanley Cup playoffs.

Thornton's game-winner was the apex of the comeback series against the Kings; however, the two teams will need to faceoff in the conference finals to spread the rivalry across the nation.

Though his career began in Boston after being selected No. 1 overall in 1997, Thornton was traded to the South Bay in 2004 and began setting records...

San Jose Sharks Franchise Records

Assists

410

Single-Season Points

114

Single-Season Assists

92

Plus/Minus

+73

Consecutive Games

248

As long as "G.I. Joe" continues dishing the puck in a Sharks uniform, he is sure to be remembered as one of the greatest Sharks of all-time.

Los Angeles Kings No. 23: Dustin Brown

Brown is currently nowhere near the franchise leader in any scoring category; however, his 2012 playoff heroics have certainly placed him as one of the most clutch Kings of all-time.

Throughout the Kings' run to the Stanley Cup this season, Brown captained the team to an incredible 16-4 record, adding everything from goal-scoring to body checks.

The 27-year old American is built on all-around great play on both ends of the ice, and as the blue-collar captain of a Kings roster, he achieved a feat no King has ever accomplished: Stanley Cup Champion.

San Jose Sharks No. 12: Patrick Marleau

The San Jose Sharks drafted Marleau No. 2 overall when he was just 17 years old. To this day, Marleau has played all 1,100 of his games in the teal and black, netting over 800 points in the process.

This true franchise player is likely to be the first San Jose Sharks retired jersey to hang on the rafters in the HP Pavilion.

Since drafting Marleau, the Sharks have made the playoffs 12 of those 15 seasons. Aside from his regular season successes in San Jose, Marleau represented his native land up north with an Olympic Gold Medal in the 2010 Winter Games.

Ottawa Senators No. 11: Daniel Alfredsson

Despite being selected in the sixth round of the 1994 draft, Daniel Alfredsson fought his way to become the greatest Ottawa Senator of all-time...

Ottawa Senators Franchise Records:

Games Played

1,131

Goals

416

Assists

666

Points

1,082

Game-Winning Goals

67

Power-Play Goals

128

Shorthanded Goals

25

Shots

3,219

The only competition for all of Alfredsson's offensive statistics lie in future acquisitions. Once his prolific career in Ottawa comes to an end, he'll be honored as one of the classiest players of all-time with a No. 11 banner hanging in the fan-friendly Scotiabank Place.

New York Rangers No. 24: Ryan Callahan

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Ryan Callahan is easily the most bold and risky of all on the list. Callahan was selected 127th overall and sent to the AHL twice in his career with the Rangers, only to work his way to being named team captain on September of 2011.

If the 27-year-old delivers a Stanley Cup and continues as the blue-collar Rangers captain for the entirety of his career, No. 24 will certainly be honored with a banner at the world-famous Madison Square Garden in Manhattan.

Vancouver Canucks No. 22 and No. 33: Sedin Twins

The Sedin twins are arguably the most beautiful skaters in the league. Their fluidity together is truly unique in the NHL, and their offensive production nears the league leaders year after year.

When compared to past Canucks, the twins are two of the four Canucks to post 700 career points, and at just 31 years old, they will surely top all major offensive franchise records within the next few seasons.

Before the 2011 all-star fantasy draft, the two had never even played on different teams, and the ceremony retiring the No. 22 and No. 33 won't be any different.

Buffalo Sabres No. 30: Ryan Miller

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Ryan Miller is one of the more unique stories on the list, as he was drafted 138th overall out of Michigan State University. After just 15 games replacing the stoic Dominik Hasek, Miller was sent down to the Rochester Americans of the American Hockey League and posted nothing more than mediocre numbers.

Following the stint in the AHL, Miller returned to Buffalo in 2003, where he's remained one of the most consistent goaltenders in the league to this day.

Unfortunately for Miller, the Sabres have lacked both offensive and defensive depth to back Miller en route to a Stanley Cup.

Whether Miller ever gets the chance to hoist the Cup or not, if he continues the terrific individual performances, he'll be awarded a No. 30 banner in Buffalo's First Niagra Center.

Carolina Hurricanes No. 12: Eric Staal

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This image is a perfect metaphor for Eric Staal's tenure in Carolina. From the recent brutal regular seasons following the historic Cup run to the lack of help on offense, it goes without saying that Eric Staal could use a beer or two.

Staal is behind the legendary Ron Francis in franchise points by a long shot, but his captaincy in Carolina will not go overlooked once he decides to hang up the skates forever.

Washington Capitals No. 8: Alexander Ovechkin

Unless you're a Caps fan, you probably hate Alex Ovechkin, sans a realistic reason. Ovechkin is one of the most over-scrutinized athlete in professional sports right next to LeBron James and Tim Tebow.

On top of the incredible individual performances on single plays, Ovi is one of only 13 players to score 65 goals in a single season, numbers that will surely award him a No. 8 banner in the nation's capital one day.

Tampa Bay Lightning No. 91: Steven Stamkos

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Steven Stamkos is the youngest on the list, and as it's extremely hard to dictate the future of a 21-year-old, the future Bolts captain is fresh off one of the only 60-goal seasons in the NHL since 2000.

It is extremely clear that the Tampa Bay Lightning will look to keep building the franchise player around Stamkos, and if he can continue the prolific career in Tampa, he'll surely be remembered as one of the greatest athletes in Florida sports history.

New Jersey Devils No. 30: Martin Brodeur

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Longtime Devils goaltender Martin Brodeur is fresh off his fourth trip to the Stanley Cup Finals at an incredible 40 years of age.

Brodeur is well-known for a variety of things in the professional hockey world, none more hilarious however than the "Brodeur Rule." Very rarely do the fans get to see a player so talented that the official rules of the game change. In Bordeur's case, following the 2004-05 NHL lockout, the league implemented a trapezoid behind the goaltender's net to make it illegal to play the puck within the designated space.

This was largely attributed to Marty because he was one of the best at playing the free puck and starting a transition for the team's offense.

Brodeur made plenty of noise between the pipes, however, notching three Stanley Cups for New Jersey in his 21 years of NHL play.

He currently holds an incredible 25 NHL records that include everything from career wins to shutouts.

Martin Brodeur is the single greatest goalie in NHL history and is only a matter of retirement away from landing his own No. 30 banner in New Jersey.